Finger computer display and controller device

ABSTRACT

A processor connected to one or more displays shaped to affix to a fingernail for displaying an image.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/004,270, filed on Jun. 8, 2018, titled “FINGER COMPUTER DISPLAY ANDCONTROLLER DEVICE,” that issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,540,019, on Jan. 21,2020, that is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/230,133, titled “FINGER COMPUTER DISPLAY AND CONTROLLER DEVICE,”filed on Aug. 5, 2016 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,996,170 on Jun. 12,2018, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No.62/201,393, titled “METHODS AND DEVICES FOR CONTROLLING FUNCTIONSEMPLOYING WEARABLE PRESSURE-SENSITIVE DEVICES,” filed on Aug. 5, 2015,and incorporated by reference herein; this application also claimspriority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/201,486, titled“FINGER COMPUTER DISPLAY AND CONTROLLER DEVICE,” filed on Aug. 5, 2015,and incorporated by reference herein; this application also claimspriority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/815,824 (entitled“COMPOSITION PRODUCTION WITH AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION,”) filed Mar. 15,2013; this application also claims priority to U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/815,763, titled “WRIST PHONE,” filed Mar. 15, 2013, thatincorporated by reference U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No.61/849,982, titled “FINGERNAIL SCREEN,” filed on Feb. 5, 2013, all ofwhich are incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to miniaturized computers, miniaturizedtelecommunication devices, and miniaturized computer displays, and morespecifically, to such devices produced in wearable form.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The size of computer and telecommunication device components hascontinually decreased, making possible ever-smaller computerizeddevices. Some computerized devices, such as telecommunication devicesare now sufficiently small that a user can wear them or incorporate theminto articles of clothing.

Originally rigid devices, such as computer display devices have recentlybeen developed that are flexible and thus that can be shaped into a widevariety of desired configurations.

A need exists for a wearable computerized device that incorporates adisplay screen that can be affixed to a fingernail. A need also existsfor a wearable computerized device that incorporates a flexible displaythat can be affixed to a fingernail.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure, an approach for awearable FCDCD located on or in the close proximity of one or morefinger (or toe) nail of users. The display by being controlled by acontroller that enables different digital content to be displayed on thefingernail. The controller and display may also contain a power supplyand be either physically networked to wirelessly networked with othersuch FCDCD.

The above-described features and advantages, as well as others, willbecome more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art byreference to the following detailed description and accompanyingdrawings. While it is desirable to provide FCDCD, the teachingsdisclosed herein also extend to those embodiments which fall within thescope of the appended claims, regardless of whether they accomplish oneor more of the above-mentioned advantages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be more readily understood by referring to theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1a-c is an exploded perspective view of the first embodiment of aFinger Computer Display and Controller Device (“FCDCD”) according to theinvention.

FIGS. 2a-b are cross-sectional and exploded view, respectively, of theembodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a finger having a fingernail.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are illustrations of embodiments of the finger computer,display and controller devices according to the invention incommunication with electricity generating devices that employ a user'sbody heat.

FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment in which the processor isdisposed remotely from the FCDCD rather than being secured within theartificial nail.

FIGS. 7a-d are illustrations of an alternative embodiment in which theembodiment of FIG. 6 is in a thimble-like finger cap.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of thedrawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In FIGS. 1a-c , an exploded perspective view of the first embodiment ofa Finger Computer Display and Controller Device (“FCDCD”) in accordancewith the invention is depicted. The FCDCD 10 includes a case 12 in whichis included a screen with an upper layer 20, which in some embodimentsis a flexible screen 14 and controller 15. The controller includes aprocessor 16, a signal receiver 18, a signal transmitter 90, a digitalcontent storage means (memory) 21, and a battery 23. The controller 15is coupled by a bus 25 to screen 22. Screen upper layer 20 has definedtherein display area 22. In some embodiments, other components commonlyincluded in a telecommunications device may also be included in the case12, where the case 12 forming an artificial nail 30 in the currentimplementation. The artificial nail may be affixed with glue 27 or other“sticky” type substance to a fingernail 19 FIG. 3 on finger 17 of FIG. 3or toenail.

Turning to FIGS. 2a-b , a cross-sectional and exploded views,respectively of the embodiment of FIG. 1 are depicted. The processorcontacts 42 of processor 16 in a lower artificial nail portion 30 ofartificial nail 10 that has a case processor receptacle 32 havingcontroller 15. The processor contracts 42 communicates with screencontacts 24 of screen 14, enabling processor 16 to control the operationof screen 14 and to produce images in the display area 22 of screenupper layer 20. In other implementations, bus 25 may be implemented ascontacts 24. FIG. 2a-b also depicted with an adhesive layer 50 that maybe glue 27 in the current implementation.

In some implementations, the screen is a flexible screen (such as anOLED screen) and in some embodiments, the screen or flexible screen is atouchscreen. In yet other implementations the case is a flexible caseand the components in the case are disposed to operate even with bendingof the case reaches a 90-degree angle from center to ends of the case.In yet other implementations, the case may be a substance (such asepoxy) that covers the components to create a protective layer and mayalso secure the components to the display.

Content that may be stored in, and displayed or played on the FCDCDinclude, without limitation, visual content, audio content, audiovisualcontent, text, graphics and/or haptic content.

In some implementations, the case is affixed to an artificial nail. Insome implementations, the bottom of the case is the artificial nail.Artificial nail 30 can be produced by any of a wide variety of processesknown to those skilled in the art, including, without limitation, avariation of methods described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,677,257 and thereferences cited therein, all of which are incorporated herein byreference. In some implementations, processor 16 is secured within thecase processor receptacle 32 defined within the case. In otherimplementations, the processor receptacle 32 is defined within anartificial nail 30. In yet other implementations, artificial nailprocessor receptacle 32 is defined by removing overlying portions ofartificial nail 30 after artificial nail 30 is produced. In otherimplementations, artificial nail processor receptacle 32 is produced bya molding process used to produce artificial nail 30. In still otherspecific embodiments, processor 16 is incorporated into artificial nail30 during the process of producing artificial nail 30, e.g., insertedinto a mold into which the material used to form artificial nail 30 issubsequently introduced. In yet other implementations, processor 16 issecured to an upper surface 34 of artificial nail 30 and engages with ascreen processor receptacle (not shown) defined within screen upperlayer 20. Other methods for incorporating processor 16 between flexiblescreen upper layer 20 and artificial nail 30 of implementations of thefinger computer, display and controller devices according to theinvention will be obvious to skilled artisans.

In some embodiments, screen upper layer 20 is a flexible screencomprising an OLED screen, such as that produced by SAMSUNG™. Otherflexible screens can also be employed. In some embodiments the flexiblescreen, such as a touch screen capable of transmitting controlinformation to the processor in response to a user's touch and/ortactile interaction with the touchscreen. Flexible screen upper layer 20is formed from the selected flexible screen into a shape generallycorresponding to the shape of a nail or an artificial nail 30 or thegeneral with-wise curve of a nail or artificial nail perpendicular tothe length of the finger on which the nail or artificial nail isattached, and is secured to upper surface 34 of the nail or artificialnail 30 by one or more appropriate adhesives, mechanical fasteners orother means known to skilled artisans. In some embodiments the flexiblescreen is a part of a flexible casing which contains the processor,transmitter, receiver, battery and memory components which are disposedwithin the flexible casing and oriented in relation to each other suchthat when the case is flexed up to 90-degrees, ends to center, that thecomponents will function properly. In some embodiments, other componentscommonly found in telecommunications devices such as smart phones aresimilarly oriented in relation to each other such that when the case isflexed up to 90-degrees, ends to center, that the components willfunction properly.

In some implementations where a flexible screen and a flexible case areused, the case is configured to allow the case to slide. Processor 16 isencoded with appropriate software drivers for controlling the functionof screen upper layer 20 to produce images in the display area 22 offlexible screen upper layer 20. The images in some implementations maybe images of JPEG or other known digital image formats. In yet otherimplementations, the image may be compressed prior to loading into theFCDCD. In some implementations, processor 16 further comprisestransmitter 90 and receiver 18 elements (in other implementations thetransmitter and receiver maybe combined into a single transceiver) whichenables processor 16 to communicate with an external source, such as awireless-enabled computer, a smartphone or other telecommunicationdevice, or in specific embodiments, other adjacent finger computer,display and controller devices, in order to receive activation ordeactivation instructions, instructions for the production of one ormore images in display area 22, coordination instructions between oramong adjacent finger computer, display and controller devices, etc. Thetransmitter 90 and receiver 18 may be implemented to communicate using aknown approach, such as wireless, infrared, light sensing/transmittingdiodes, three wire bus or other bus structure. In some embodimentsactivation/deactivation of finger computer display and controller deviceis accomplished, by means of an included power switch 46. In someembodiments, where the display comprises a touch screen, suchactivation/deactivation is controlled by a haptic means by user'sengagement of virtual switch displayed on the touchscreen display.

In specific embodiments, processor 16 is also provided withnano-gyroscope 48, which provides motion and orientation information toprocessor 16 for use with various applications requiring suchinformation, similarly to “WII®”-type devices.

FCDCD 10 is secured to a user's fingernail 19 by any known means, suchas adhesive layer 50.

FCDCD 10 is powered, in certain implementations, by appropriately-sizedbatteries. In other particular embodiments, FCDCD 10 is powered by RFinductor technology 60, in a manner similar to “smart cards”; suchembodiments function best in environments having a continuous supply ofappropriate RF signals. In still other embodiments, electricitygenerated from a thermoelectric material such as Power Felt in contactwith a user's body provides sufficient current to operate the FCDCD 10.Depending on the efficiency of the thermoelectric material and thecurrent requirements of FCDCD 10, the power supply for FCDCD 10 can takethe form of, for example in FIG. 4, a power band of thermoelectricmaterial 70 positioned around a user's finger and in communication withFCDCD 10 via contact 72 and appropriate conductors and electroniccomponents regulating current flow, or alternatively, a power glove 80shown in FIG. 5 which provides electricity to a plurality of fingercomputer, display and controller devices 10 via contacts 82 etc. In someimplementations, the FCDCD is powered by one or more solar cellsdisposed on the top of the unit in communication with the battery.

In particular implementations, FCDCD 10 is configured with atouchscreen. Such implementations enable a wearer the ability to controlby touch, in manners well known to those skilled in the art, variousfunctions of processor 16 or of external processors and/or other deviceswith which processor 16 are in hard or wireless contact.

Some implementations of the FCDCD have been described above in whichprocessor 16 is incorporated into artificial nail 30. In an alternativeimplementation shown in FIG. 6 processor, 40 is remote from artificialnail 30 and wirelessly communicates with flexible screen upper layer 20via transmitter/receiver element 90. Processor 40 can be disposed in anydesired location, such as, without limitation, a computer, atelecommunication device, a musical instrument, a game controller, atelevision set, etc. Other communication between processor 40 andflexible upper layer 20, such as a wire or other appropriate circuitry,can also be employed.

Turning to FIGS. 7a-d , illustrations of an alternative embodiment inwhich the alternate embodiment of FIG. 6 is in a thimble-like finger cap96 are depicted in accordance with an example implementation. In FIG. 7a, a thimble-like finger cap 96 top view is depicted as forming a case 97having a screen 14, controller 15, and contacts/bus 25 with adhesive 98.FIG. 7b is a front view of thimble-like finger cap 96. FIG. 7c is a backview of thimble-like finger cap 96. FIG. 7d is cut away side view of thethimble-like finger cap 96.

In some implementations individual FCDCDs of a plurality of FCDCDs wornby a use provide discrete or unique identification information regardingthe specific FCDCD to an external processor, such as one in orassociated with a user's telecommunication device, such as an iPhone orother “smartphone”, or a user's computer or similar device. In this wayspecific content, programming, etc. can be routed by a processor in ahub or other remote processor to a specific FCDCD. In some embodiments,the user's telecommunication device and/or computer can “pair” with theindividual FCDCDs (such as with BLUETOOTH™) so that they can beindividually controlled or have specified content sent to them by orthrough an external device such as a user's telecommunication device orcomputer.

In some implementations, the individual FCDCDs communicate with eachother to produce coordinated displays.

In some implementations, the FCDCDs can function as switches or othercontrollers that remotely control external devices by wireless means.For example, in some implementations, such as where the FCDCDs comprisea touch screen and are configured with an application that enables auser to send on/off control signals wirelessly from the FCDCDs to areceiver/control signal relay device in communication with an externaldevice whereby such on/off control signal is provided to the externaldevice to switch such device, or a function associated with such device,on and off. In other implementations, the FCDCDs can control one or moreexternal devices that in turn trigger and/or control one or more soundor signal generating devices, sound or signal modifying devices,synthesizers, light controllers, special effects controllers, or afeature or functionality of a “Collaborative Show Performance System” asthat term is used in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/815,824,entitled Composition Production With Audience Participation and isincorporated herein by reference.

In some implementations, individual FCDCDs provide locationalinformation regarding their location to a heads-up display, such asGoogle Glasses, for controlling a processor in coordination withinformation displayed on the heads-up display. In this way, for example,if the display of an augmented reality heads up display has a selectablebutton displayed on it, the user's movement of the finger on which isdisposed a FCDCD to a place in the user's visual field displayed via theheads up display where such button is projected, coupled with theengagement of an activation function, such as tapping on the touchscreen of the finger computer, display, and controller device, will“click” on the button displayed and select and/or engage the functionselected by or engaged by the clicking of the button.

In some implementations, such control signal or signals may be providedby one or more FCDCDs using wireless transmissions involving separateand discreet radio frequencies for each of the FCDCDs. In someembodiments, to conserve battery life in the finger computer, displayand controller devices, wireless signals from one or more fingercomputer, display and controller devices are sent to and received by ahub signal relay device that, in turn, provides control signalinformation to one or more external devices. In other implementations,the hub includes a receiver, a transmitter, a processor whereby thecontrol signal is received processed and transmitted by the Hub to oneor more external receivers in communication with one or more externaldevices. In some embodiments, the hub is worn by the user.

Content to be displayed on the FCDCD can be provided from any number ofsources that can be in wireless communication with the FCDCD, such asfrom a telecommunications device, a remote server, or any other deviceor system capable of transmitting visual, audio, audiovisual, graphic,textual, and/or haptic content wirelessly.

In other implementations, the finger computer, display, and controllerdevices are configured to include one or more sound inputting devices,such as microphones and/or one or more sound generating devices. In thisway sound content provided to the finger computer, display andcontroller devices from an external or internal source can be played onthe FCDCD. Similarly, the sound captured by one or more FCDCDs can betransmitted by the FCDCDs to an external device, such as atelecommunications device, such as the user's smartphone, or anothertype of computer.

In some implementations, the FCDCDs are configured to include one ormore haptic inputting devices. In this way, haptic data provided to anFCDCD, such as from gestures, tactile contact with the device, etc., canbe captured and used by the device and/or be transmitted by the deviceto an external device, such as to a telecommunications device, such asthe user's smartphone, or another type of computer, or to an externaldevice to be controlled by such haptic data. In some embodiments, theFCDCD is configured to include one or more haptic outputting devices,such as one or more vibrators, heat generators, etc., in order to outputhaptic information data sent to the FCDCD.

It will be understood and is appreciated by persons skilled in the art,that one or more processes, sub-processes, or process steps described inconnection with the figures may be performed by hardware and/or software(machine-readable instructions) that configures generic hardware toperform a specific function. If the approach is performed by software,the software may reside in software memory (not shown) in a suitableelectronic processing component or system such as one or more of thefunctional components or modules schematically depicted in the figures.

The software in software memory may include an ordered listing ofexecutable instructions for implementing logical functions (that is,“logic” that may be implemented either in digital forms such as digitalcircuitry or source code or in analog forms such as analog circuitry oran analog source such an analog electrical, sound or video signal), andmay selectively be embodied in any computer-readable medium for use byor in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, ordevice, such as a computer-based system, processor-containing system, orother system that may selectively fetch the instructions from theinstruction execution system, apparatus, or device and execute theinstructions. In the context of this disclosure, a “computer-readablemedium” is any tangible means that may contain or store the program foruse by or in connection with the instruction execution system,apparatus, or device. The tangible computer-readable medium mayselectively be, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic,magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system,apparatus or device. More specific examples, but nonetheless anon-exhaustive list, of tangible computer-readable media would includethe following: a portable computer diskette (magnetic), a RAM(electronic), a read-only memory “ROM” (electronic), an erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory) (electronic) and aportable compact disc read-only memory “CDROM” (optical). Note that thecomputer-readable medium may even be paper (punch cards or punch tape)or another suitable medium upon which the instructions may beelectronically captured, then compiled, interpreted or otherwiseprocessed in a suitable manner if necessary, and stored in a computermemory.

The foregoing detailed description of one or more embodiments of theapproach for finger computer display and controller device has beenpresented herein by way of example only and not limitation. It will berecognized that there are advantages to certain individual features andfunctions described herein that may be obtained without incorporatingother features and functions. Moreover, it will be recognized thatvarious alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements of theabove-disclosed embodiments and other features and functions, oralternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many otherdifferent embodiments, systems or applications. Presently unforeseen orunanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvementstherein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which arealso intended to be encompassed by the appended claims. Therefore, thespirit and scope of any appended claims should not be limited to thedescription of the embodiments contained herein.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A finger computer display and controllerdevice (FCDCD), comprising: a power supply; a first processor coupled tothe power supply; a switch; a first flexible display responsive to theprocessor and coupled to the power supply where the display is shaped toaffix to a first fingernail and able to display a digital image; and atransceiver coupled to the power supply and the processor adapted forreceipt of the digital image, where the first processor communicateswith a second processor that is coupled to a second flexible displayaffixed to a second fingernail with the transceiver and where the firstprocessor signals via the transceiver a change in state of the switch.2. The FCDCD of claim 1, where the digital image is a compressed digitalimage.
 3. The FCDCD of claim 1, where the first processor communicateswith the first flexible display over a wired interface.
 4. The FCDCD ofclaim 1, where the first processor communicates with the first flexibledisplay wirelessly.
 5. The FCDCD of claim 1, where the first processorcommunicates with a second flexible display wirelessly.
 6. The FCDCD ofclaim 1 where at least the processor and screen are located in a case.7. The FCDCD of claim 6, where the case is an artificial fingernail. 8.The FCDCD of claim 7, where the case is formed on top of an artificialfingernail.
 9. The FCDCD of claim 2, where the transceiver providesmovement data from the processor in Response to movement of the FCDCD.10. The FCDCD of claim 9, where the movement data is generated by amicro-gyroscope coupled to the processor.
 11. The FCDCD of claim 10,where the switch is part of the screen with the screen being atouchscreen.
 12. A finger computer display and controller device(FCDCD), comprising: a power supply; a case shaped like a thimble; afirst processor coupled to the power supply; a switch coupled to thefirst processor; a first flexible display responsive to the processorand coupled to the power supply where the first flexible display isshaped to be in the case and cover a first fingernail and able todisplay a digital image; and a transceiver coupled to the power supplyand the processor adapted for receipt of the digital image where firstprocessor communicates with a second processor that is coupled to asecond flexible display located on a second fingernail, where a changeof state of the switch is detected by the processor and sent by thetransceiver.
 13. The FCDCD of claim 12, where the digital image is acompressed digital image.
 14. The FCDCD of claim 12, where the firstprocessor communicates with the first flexible display over a wiredinterface.
 15. The FCDCD of claim 12, where the first processorcommunicates with the first display wirelessly.
 16. The FCDCD of claim12, where the first processor communicates with a second flexibledisplay wirelessly.
 17. The FCDCD of claim 12, where the transceiverprovides movement data from the processor in Response to movement of theFCDCD.
 18. The FCDCD of claim 17, where the movement data is generatedby a micro-gyroscope coupled to the processor.
 19. The FCDCD of claim12, where the switch is part of the screen with the screen being atouchscreen.